There are many great places to eat within the area. Most dining options can be found in Swanage or a bit further afield in Wareham, including fish & chips, Indian, Italian and fish restaurants. We recommend booking in advance (especially in the busy holiday periods) to avoid disappointment.
We have eaten in many of the local restaurants. Here are a few of our favourites:
Worth Matravers
If you just want a snack, the Square & Compass pub sell delicious homemade pasties and pies (as well as good beer and cider). They do not offer any other food apart from crisps, peanuts, etc.
Corfe Castle
There are a number of eating options in Corfe Castle. The Bankes Arms Hotel and the Greyhound Inn offer fresh food from local suppliers. You also have the Castle Inn and the recently reopened Fox Inn, which both serve good, traditional pub grub. Just outside Corfe Castle on the road towards Wareham, the Half Way Inn serves excellent Sunday roasts.
If you want an alternative to a pub, the National Trust Tea Rooms is a great choice for a traditional cream tea, while The Pink Goat is a good option for casual lunches and tasty tapas-style food.
Kingston
The Scott Arms is a welcoming pub that serves decent ales as well as tasty, locally sourced food during the lunch and evening periods. They have a formal dining area and a great garden overlooking the Corfe Castle ruins and Purbeck Hills. The Jerk Shack BBQ, selling Jamaican-style cuisine, is also available during the spring and summer weekends.
Swanage
For classic fish & chips you can’t go wrong with the Fish Plaice, which is very popular with tourists and locals alike. For contemporary dining, Chilled Red is worth a look. They don’t have a website, but their phone number is 01929 426066. We also recommend The 1859 Pier Cafe & Bistro, located by Swanage Pier.
Serving good breakfasts, coffee, homemade cakes and bistro-style cuisine, Love Cake Etc at number 42 High Street, is a nice place to eat, whatever the time of day.
If you like Italian food, La Trattoria is a small restaurant offering fresh, locally caught fish as well as homemade pizza and pasta. They also have a separate cafe for coffee, snacks and breakfast. The Black Swan Inn on the High Street is a cosy establishment serving traditional pub fare and real ale. Street parking can be a bit of problem, but it’s worth the effort.
Studland
The Bankes Arms is a 16th-century pub with an ever-changing menu and a brilliant garden with continuous views across Studland Bay. If you fancy a bit of a treat, then try The Pig on the Beach. This charming country house hotel has a high-end restaurant that serves home-grown produce and seasonal dishes.